Patent plans

About these records

Title

Patent plans

Dates of Creation

[178?]-[ca. 1978]

Physical Description

4201 plans

Scope and Content

Series consists of plans showing the status of Crown lands, whether patented, leased, or under a license of occupation. Until the late 1970s, patent plans were used within the Ministry of Natural Resources as a quick reference tool to show the alienation of Crown land. Once this information was computerised, the patent plans became redundant, and they were transferred to the Archives of Ontario.

At the time a survey was completed and a survey plan created, an extra copy of the plan was prepared. Whenever a lot or a portion of a lot was patented, the patentee's name was inscribed on the plan in the appropriate place and the lot normally was marked with a "D" for "described". At times, other information such as a land file number (See Series RG 1-246), an order-in-council number, a licence number or a lease reference also was included. Later survey plans were obtained from other government sources such as land registry offices.

Several patent plans may exist for a
town or township, and the information provided may vary among the plans. The series also includes Subdivision plans, which are plans that subdivide land of existing lots into two or more new lots; or, the consolidation of two or more existing lots and their simultaneous redivision along new boundaries into two or more new lots. Subdivision plans include a prefix "M" before the number of the plan.

Particularly in the pre-Confederation period, these plans were used to record locations on land made for grants and sales. Often, however, the individuals named on the plans did not follow through with obtaining a patent on the land. Thus, in order to confirm that a patent was actually issued, it is necessary to examine other sources such as various indices to land patents. (See Inventory 52 for descriptions of these indices).

Restrictions on Access

Some material may be closed for conservation reasons.

Terms For Use and Reproduction

Copyright is primarily held by the Crown. No restrictions on reproduction. Permission of the Archives of Ontario is required for publication; submit a Request for Permission to Publish, Exhibit or Broadcast Form.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These records were acquired via direct transfer from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Land Management Branch, in 1979.

Related Material

See the following series for further information on land patents: Series RG 53-1, Land patents; Series RG 53-2, Indexes to land patents by districts; Series RG 53-3, Cancelled land patents; Series RG 53-52, Land patents - Free grants; Series RG 53-53, Land patents - School land sales; Series RG 53-54, Land patents - Militia grants; Series RG 53-55, Index to land patents by township; and Series RG 53-56, Index to land patents by name.

Notes

The dates in the online list do not reflect the dates of creation of specific maps. The records were constantly updated while they were held by the Ministry of Natural Resources.